teas and the
parties they are going to, or in amusing themselves with the toys
belonging to the children of the house, which are usually arranged on
tables for this purpose; and mechanical toys, walking and talking birds,
etc., musical toys, picture-books, and dolls, and the latest and newest
inventions in the way of playthings afford the little visitors an
opportunity for becoming at ease with each other.

Tea is generally dispensed at one end of a long table, and coffee at the
opposite end. The governess usually pours out the tea, and one of the
daughters of the house the coffee; or failing her, the head nurse or
lady's maid does so. Dishes of pound, plum, and sponge cake are placed
the length of the table, interspersed with plates of thin
bread-and-butter, biscuits, and preserves; either the ladies of the
family or the servants in attendance hand them to the children.

When the relatives accompany the children tea is usually served to them
in another room, but frequently they do not arrive until tea is over,
and the nurses accompany the children to the house.

* * * * *

=Amusements.=--The arrangements for the evening's amusement are
regulated in a measure by the amount of accommodation a house affords,
premising that boisterous games are not allowed in drawing-rooms;
unless all valuable ornaments or things likely to be broken are removed
from the rooms.

If conjuring is one of the amusements provided, it generally takes place
in the drawing-room immediately after tea, and lasts about an hour. A
dancing-cloth is put down over the drawing-room carpet; rout seats or
cane chairs are arranged in rows. The youngest children are seated in
the first row. Performing birds, performing dogs, or performing monkeys
are also favourite amusements at these parties, and rank next to
conjuring in the estimation of children. Punch and Judy or marionettes
are popular drawing-room amusements, and either occupies the space of an
hour.

When a cinematograph show is the entertainment provided, it takes place
in the dining-room or library, or perhaps in the housekeeper's room, if
large enough for the purpose.

Dancing or games usually precede these amusements, and lasts from half
to three-quarters of an hour; little girls dance with each other round
and square dances, as little girls are, as a rule, more partial to
dancing than are little boys, although they one and all, great and
small, join with gl